Confessions of a Dead Man Walking

Did you ever doubt yourself? Have you ever wondered whether you’re on the right track? Or that you were enough for the job?

I have. And often still do.

It’s hard, popping your own balloon and seeing yourself as you really are. Sometimes you just don’t like what you see.

My new life started over four years ago after my brush with death. It changed me forever in ways I’m only now beginning to realize.

We lost our law practice.

Five months in the hospital and another two years of recovery made sure of that. Clients don’t wait around long when you can’t do their work (which, frankly, was the last thing on my mind). By time I was able, there weren’t any left to come back to.

And I just couldn’t bear starting over to rebuild my law practice.

After all, it nearly killed me. But I survived, and here I am.

It’s been a long road getting back to where I am. Living on the edge. Feeling like I’m living on bonus time, added on at the end of the game.

A New Beginning

For a long time I didn’t want to pick up any of my previous work. And PeaceOptions was the last thing on my list. I had let it all go.

Worst of all, I couldn’t even get myself to write.

It was my passion. I once said that if I couldn’t write, I couldn’t breathe.

Funny, that almost came true in the hospital.

As it turned out, I couldn’t speak for over a year. At least, not without covering the hole in my throat from the trache tube, once it was finally removed.

Imagine that. A lawyer who can’t talk.

Finally, now I can. And I’ve got something to say.

Maybe it’s why I’m still here. I left that up to God to do with me what He willed.

Now I’m going into the lions’ den and risking the ire of friend and foe alike.

You may have noticed I just started writing again a few weeks ago. The urge to write again just hit out of the blue. Like lightening.

Some of you have probably been quite upset about it; others I know are pleased.

A lot of it has been about Trump and what’s going on in our country.

Some of you haven’t been happy, considering our conversations since. Other long-time friends have left, apparently unable to listen to me express my views on current events.

But that’s exactly why I’m here, talking about us and the state of our nation and the world around us.

Our world is changing. Rapidly. And the old ways aren’t serving us any longer.

What’s really changing is us. We’re all becoming too entrenched in our own extremes and attached to our desires. Fears are running rampant. Emotions run hot.

We each seem to be pulled toward one pole or another, swallowed up by the passions of our extremes. In fact, it’s getting so bad it looks like some people are getting violent, and acting in uncivil ways that they would never have dreamed only a short while ago.

When we engage with others who don’t see things the way we do, we’re finding it almost painful to even listen to them.

Our polarization is pulling us apart, and it’s getting worse in every moment.

We can’t go on like this. Something’s bound to give. I’m afraid it might be us. Or our Republic.

So that’s why I’m writing, to do my part to try to stop this madness that is sweeping over the land and threatens to burn down all our forefathers built.

I don’t promise to say things you’ll like. Rather …

I promise to challenge your beliefs and if necessary, piss you off.

But I will do it with love in my heart, always to shine the light upon that which you may not see — or don’t want to.

As I trust you will do with me.

Only together can we make this world a place worth living in. Your extremes. My extremes. And everything in between.

I invite you to walk with me as we explore how to move beyond our differences and find a way to get along despite them.